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Council adopts one-year AmWins retiree health plan; amendment to keep $300 out-of-pocket fails
Summary
After debate and a failed floor amendment, Charleston City Council approved a one-year contract with AmWins Group Benefits for Medicare‑eligible retiree coverage. Council discussed costs, estimated 560–564 retirees, and the timing risks of delaying plan adoption.
Charleston City Council on Nov. 17 approved Resolution 25‑112, authorizing the mayor or city manager to contract with AmWins Group Benefits LLC for medical and prescription coverage for the Medicare‑eligible retiree health plan effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Councilwoman Snodgrass moved an amendment to retain the current $300 annual out‑of‑pocket maximum for retirees by switching the plan option from the administration's proposed option 5 to option 4. Snodgrass argued the city should absorb an estimated $68,000 in additional annual cost to protect vulnerable retirees on fixed incomes. "For this to be thrust upon them... I think the right thing to do is to keep the same level benefits for our retirees," she said.
Finance Director Andy Wood told council the administration's proposed option would increase the city's cost by about $116,000 for 2026; switching to option 4 would add roughly $68,000 more, bringing the total projected increase to about $184,000 based on the packet spreadsheet and an estimated retiree population of about 560–564. Wood said the change would not alter retiree premiums and that the proposal functions as secondary coverage to Medicare.
Council members debated the tradeoffs. Supporters of the amendment said the city should shoulder a modest increase to protect low‑income retirees who rely on a fixed income. Opponents said the increase is a modest per‑person change that reflects broader market pressures and could be unsustainable if premiums continue to rise; one council member framed the increase as roughly $17 a month in the context of national premium increases.
Council voted on the Snodgrass amendment by voice and the presiding officer declared "the nays have it," so the amendment failed. The council then held a roll‑call vote on the resolution; the presiding officer declared Resolution 25‑112 adopted by a majority.
Council members asked follow‑up questions about enrollment and administrative timing: Finance staff said roughly 560–564 retirees would qualify for the plan and warned that tabling the decision or seeking new proposals could delay cards reaching retirees by Jan. 1, potentially affecting plan administration even if coverage continued through a substitute arrangement.
The meeting record shows the council adopted other consent‑agenda items that night, including authorizing purchase of 12 upfitted police vehicles (Resolution 25‑113) and cybersecurity equipment (Resolution 25‑114).
